God Encounters

It's been too long.
It's not that I have been on vacation,nor that my mind has settled to nothingness,I returned here several times to try to put words in their place ...
I am back.

In the past week I have had God sightings - no, more like God encounters.

Soon it will be a week. Saturday 4:00 AM it will be.
We woke to the sounds of our young neighbor in desperate need of help.
What to do?
God said "go"- so I went.
I sat there with my arms around her on her concrete garage floor.She cried, she talked.I whispered the name of Jesus, giving encouraging words where appropriate but mostly just letting her talk as her mangled thoughts became words.She sat stiff and rigid,holding on to my hand.
I prayed with her and at that moment  her body totally relaxed against me.Jesus was there.
He was holding her.
He was holding me.-Oh he was ALWAYS there but at that moment I felt him.
I wanted to keep her there. She soon went back to the horror of the morning.
 I pray she will never forget that moment.
I won't.

Earlier this week the setting was completely different.I was sitting by the beach overlooking the water.I had a small time of just resting.It was if He found me there sitting still and came in close.Again it was just for a short moment , but I knew he was there- reassuring,encouraging.

You know He is always pursuing , always wanting to draw us close, have one on one time.
He is ALWAYS there.
I  just wonder...
 how many times I miss him because  I am too distracted or too restless to sit still long enough to feel.
Although,
I am convinced these encounters  happen in the middle of busy.
BUT if I don't know how it is to have him close or hear his voice  in quiet how will I feel him in busy or in noise?

Appliance Alliance...

  

So here I sit at 

My dryer broke….. It started to make a horrible noise that sounded like I had  a tin can in the dryer with the laundry ...
 we suffered through it…closed the laundry door to block the horrific noise, the next step would have been ear plugs- On it’s final run we discovered black streaks on our clothes and a burn hole on a pair of shorts. In that event we decided until we find a new  used dryer we would have to visit the  ol’ laundromat.
 I found it funny that the place is called “Coin Laundry”.
Really?
 Literally?
Funny…my dryer sounded like it had a whole lotta coins rumbling around in it.:)
Oh- If you are wondering what the going cost is for a load of laundry- For every 25 cents you get 6 whole minutes of drying time (this was for a commercial size dryer).My cost?

This pile is 2 washer loads

dried in this humungo dryer was $1.00 for a grand total of 24 minutes....

My washer still works but probably not for long....it's day's are numbered!

 In case It's been awhile that you frequented a place like this ...some things never change! This one was
is very clean.

Those ugly yellow chairs.  I wonder-why are they connected? AND.. Remember to always take something along to do ,plenty of change, and COFFEE!

A must...soda machines

These soap machines...cutsie little boxes of soap that cost $$$.Wow  the price for that small amount of soap would make any coupon-er faint!

In case #1- you only have paper money....

in case #2- you forgot your own game thingy that is what?  300 times smaller....

LOVE vintage signs...I want one like this for my laundry room!

 OH YEAH...
To add to all of this…my dishwasher gave up the ghost last week too! It refuses to drain. I think my appliances formed an alliance(forgive my play on words here) and decided to all break down in one week. Wonder if there is anyplace one can take a pile of dishes and run a load through the dishwasher…funny thought! I could start one and call it a “Dish-o-mat”!   If I told you I was washing my clothes by hand because my washer broke you would wonder why I don’t load up my clothes and go to a Laundromat ,but never would we question washing dishes by hand….:)-just a thought...

That was yesterday....
Let me tell you what God did today...

Chip came home from work and said "Honey I got your Christmas present -Come and see!"
I followed him out the door and this is what was on the back of his truck...

not only a dishwasher but....

A washer AND a dryer...

I was in awe!
Chip did a demolition in a condo today and this was what he took out...
They by far are not the latest version ,front load or stainless steel but they are  CLEAN, barely used and given by God who knew last week when Habitat got the days mixed up for pick up that I , HIS CHILD was going to NEED this!
I still sit her amazed at this provision! it chokes me up and makes me cry...(wow!)

Just over the weekend I heard the old song "His eye is on the sparrow ,and I know He watches me..."
He proved it hugely this week...

 

It's not all about me....there is cheese involved!

I hesitate to write this.A part of me wants to just write fluffy,fun,not too personal stuff but...when I am feeling like I have for the past week I log into Blogger to post and nothing comes to mind.What is in my head might not look all too pretty in words.
 It's personal.
I might look ridiculous if someone reads it.
 But than, weeks go by and this space stays empty. I don't mind if people see my heart.I hope that maybe someone will relate.... here is an honest picture of me ~
When my mind gets too full of facts,decisions to be made,things to sort , plus normal every day stuff  I tend to not to focus on any one thing too long but keep going around and around with all the different thought processes.
(I know that sounds really dumb when I actually say it .)
I guess, maybe than, I never really need to make a decision about any specific "thing" - because I am still thinking about it so I am not really procrastinating...
I AM "actively" thinking! :)
  On the down side and I mean "the bottom of the mountain downside" I finally get so stressed out that emotionally I could (and do cry) at the drop of a hat....
yes...sounds ridiculous...
 do I need therapy....
 do I need help? :)
maybe...so
 Yay for me, We are doing a study at church on personalities hopefully it will help me understand and  figure me out- changes I can make, learn to react differently to situations, hand life better. My personality type will not be discussed till week 7 and there are 2 weeks that there will not be class- that's sounds like a loooong time! I am hoping to  get some wisdom by studying for myself.Which I am currently doing and "ahem" actively thinking about :)

There are a few things I realize I need to change about me
frankly...
it kinda scares me
on the other hand it relieves me.

Part of the change will happen with the help of my  husband....who is very giving ,very understanding  and loves me for who I am - he understands my need to try various experiences and try so many new ideas -but I need to learn to stick to things.Hopefully, he can help me in my need in the area of sticking to-edness!
That is the part that scares me!
because.....
I am spontaneous,I love new concepts, experiences and variety
and do not like a schedule that cannot be moved-I do not like the feeling of being boxed in or being told what to do- especially when I don't feel like it.
Hows that for some truth about me? :)

Next week is VBS....It will all work out ...so many details!

The beginning of this week I hope goes by quickly...I enjoy being a "deli girl" ~helping make people's market experience what it should be...but really folks, does your life really depend on the slice size of your cheese? Last week I had a customer ask for her cheese to be "on the thin side" so...I accommodated her (I thought) when I placed the slices on the scale she physically shivered---alas! it was smidgen too thick! Her husband gently put his hand on her shoulder reassuring her....I quickly (for fear she would panic right there in the deli) offered to re-slice the muenster cheese but no...it would be "ok"~ they thought...O God help me to be loving and patient ~ this is after all, their cheese !

Have a lovely day! Sliced just the way you like it!

Summer and refreshment

Summertime is here. School is closed and what a great time to make fantastic family memories. The season brings longer days so we can enjoy vacations, cookouts, picnics or beach outings. Often these activities are taken as a means of rest from a busy schedule . Of course, this time of year also brings higher temperatures and humidity. The other day while in a grocery isle I noticed that magazine covers are focusing on “summertime” recipes to help keep us cool. I remember as a little girl watching my dad mow lawn on these hot, summer Florida days. Often I would fix ice cold water and take it out to him. Right there he would stop the mower, take the glass ,tip his head back and completely drain it of the thirst-quenching liquid .I also remember being the little girl who was watching her daddy enjoy that “gift” of refreshment. It perfectly delighted me. So, now that I have your thoughts on hot days and refreshments, let me remind you that Jesus wants us to enjoy his gifts in our lives. Not only does he prepare these gifts for us ,but he stands by, waiting for us to enjoy them to the last drop. It perfectly delights him too. Take the time to stop whatever is consuming your time and enjoy Jesus with complete abandonment! John 1:16”We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.” Psalm 23:2-3 “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

Written for "life Talk with Caroline "